Auckland – The Philippine Embassy in New Zealand, together with the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC)-Sydney and the New Zealand Philippines Business Council (NZPBC), organized an Executive Roundtable Discussion and Business Forum on 25 May 2026 in Auckland to explore opportunities and deepen economic partnerships between the Philippines and New Zealand.

Executive Roundtable Discussion

Held at the ANZ Centre, the roundtable brought together the Philippine Embassy, PTIC-Sydney, NZPBC, the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), and leading businesses from the Philippines and New Zealand to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral trade and investment relations.

In her remarks, Ambassador Kira Azucena emphasized the event’s role in strengthening Philippines–New Zealand economic relations as the two countries mark 60 years of diplomatic relations.

PEZA representatives, led by Director General Tereso Panaga, presented key benefits and incentives awaiting New Zealand investors within Philippine economic zones.

PEZA, or the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, is the government agency tasked to promote, operate, administer, and manage Special Economic Zones (ecozones) in the Philippines. It is tasked with attracting foreign and domestic investments, registering and assisting export-oriented manufacturing and service enterprises, and granting fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to spur industrialization and job creation.

IBPAP President Jack Madrid highlighted the strong points of the Philippines as a strategic growth and capability partner for ANZ enterprises.

IBPAP, or the Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines, has the primary mandate of championing the growth, development, and global competitiveness of the Philippine IT-BPM industry. It serves as the primary trade association and unified voice for outsourcing and digital services in the country.

Ms. Ma. Theresa Aguila, Chief Executive Officer of Pointwest, demonstrated the company’s cutting-edge solutions and offerings to the roundtable attendees.

Pointwest helps organizations modernize systems and improve operations through digital engineering, data, and intelligent solutions. With over 20 years of experience, it serves industries such as healthcare, banking, and insurance with tools to enhance experiences and streamline workflows.

Carla V. Racho, President and Co-founder of ISSI Corp, presented an overview of the company and its services to the roundtable participants.

ISSI Corp provides business process outsourcing services to help organizations accelerate growth while maintaining quality. With over 15 years of experience, it focuses on industries such as financial services, insurance, SaaS, and technology, where precision, compliance, and customer trust are key.

Atty. Michelle Dueñas, Chief Strategy Officer of Genfinity, outlined the company’s expertise and offerings to the attendees of the roundtable.

Genfinity is a business process outsourcing (BPO) and offshoring consultancy headquartered in Makati, Philippines. The company supports international organizations, particularly in the healthcare, allied health, and customer service sectors, by assisting in the setup, training, and management of offshore teams in the Philippines.

Kreatex was also represented in the roundtable discussion by its Chief Executive Officer, Anthony Rhodes.

Kreatex is a global digital product and development partner with its headquarters in Sydney, Australia, and an on-premise production and delivery team based in Manila, Philippines. Functioning as a hybrid agency-studio, the company provides end-to-end execution for digital platforms, software engineering, and brand creation. Rather than forcing businesses to build massive internal technical teams, they offer specialized teams that can design, deploy, and support digital systems.

Participants engaged in a robust dialogue, identifying both key opportunities and challenges to address in Philippines–New Zealand trade and investment.

MP Paolo Garcia expressed optimism about the potential opportunities the roundtable could create for both countries.

Philippines–New Zealand Business Forum

Held at the BNZ Building, the Business Forum aimed to position the Philippines as a strategic and innovation-driven partner for New Zealand firms, fostering deeper collaboration and growth across the IT-BPM, healthcare management, agriculture, and renewable energy sectors.

Ambassador Kira Azucena warmly welcomed approximately 50 participants from various firms across New Zealand and the Philippines to the forum.

Director General Panaga presented positive developments in the Philippine economy, including the CREATE MORE Act, which aims to attract foreign investments by reducing corporate income taxes to 20 percent, improving tax incentives, and streamlining VAT refund processes. He also discussed improvements in the country’s infrastructure.

Chief executive officers and founders of Philippine-based companies showcased their organizations and outlined potential investment opportunities for New Zealand stakeholders.

The forum concluded with a networking event, offering participants the opportunity to build connections, share insights, and discuss potential collaborations.

The Executive Roundtable Discussion and Business Forum were lead-up events to the trade mission in Manila this November. The mission is expected to bring more than 20 New Zealand business delegates to Manila to explore investment opportunities in the Philippines. END